Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. Learn about the energetic, creative people working to ensure every kid has the chance to play—every day.

Apply to be an AmeriCorps Playworks Coach today to change the lives of kids in your community tomorrow!  https://www.playworks.org/about/careers/americorps/

ABOUT PLAYWORKS We believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We are changing the school climate by leveraging the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school every day. We create a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. We partner with Boston Public Elementary Schools to provide a service or mix of services which includes on-site AmeriCorps coaches. 

Playworks Coaches are AmeriCorps members who are positioned in Boston Public Elementary Schools to be a champion of play. As an AmeriCorps member you will join with other Boston Coaches, nearly 300,000 other members nationwide,  and over one million alumni nationally who have committed their time and talents to strengthen communities. Partnership organizations, like Playworks, engage with AmeriCorps members to improve the communities they serve.

Responsibilities: 

• Create a safe and inclusive recess on the playground by being a caring role model to ensure that every kid plays every day.
• Implement a youth leadership program by providing student leadership opportunities at recess and facilitating trainings for a cohort of students before or after school.
• Lead individual classes to build youth leadership skills, promote cooperation, and introduce new games that kids can play on the playground, including the rules and boundaries.
• Enlist and coach students in interscholastic/developmental sports leagues that might include basketball, volleyball, or soccer.
• Design and implement a community event during the year that engages students’ families at the school site.
• Recruit and coordinate volunteers who will join you at recess to strengthen the school climate.
• Develop a strong school culture by influencing, motivating, and building rapport with faculty, administrators, parents, and volunteers.
• Participate in national days of service and some weekend service projects in the greater community.
• Flex your administrative muscles to organize program schedules, track your hours, and collect and enter important program data.

Benefits of being an AmeriCorps member at Playworks:

• A living stipend totaling up to $18,700, to be paid out between $1,500 and $1,600 bimonthly.
• Medical health insurance for member at no cost. Access to Dental and Vision insurance at a low cost. Monthly food, gas, and technology allowance.
• $3697.5 Education award that can be used for eligible student loans, tuition, and other education-related expenses after the successful completion of your service year. See more information here-www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/alumni/segal-americorps-education-award
• Child care expense reimbursement if you qualify- see www.americorpschildcare.com.
• Enrollment as an AmeriCorps service member- see www.americorps.gov for details.
• Leadership skill development and valuable experience for a career in education and youth development.
• You’ll make a lasting difference in children’s lives and your community and what's better than that?

Essential Qualifications

• Be at least 18 years of age
• US Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Commitment to fulfilling your entire term of service with the ability to serve your scheduled hours consistently- this term of service requires a minimum of 1700 hours over the remaining school year (typically to June), participation in a minimum of one National Days of Service, as well as ongoing required trainings and professional development
• Experience leading or teaching groups of children with the ability to engage and inspire youth
• Must be an organized self-starter exhibiting good judgment with the flexibility to adapt to shifting priorities and demands
• Experience using technology required to input program data and communicate with other team members- we use Salesforce and Google products
• Deep commitment to national and community service as demonstrated through volunteerism or other service work
• Experience interacting with diverse communities and the ability to integrate into an existing school community
• Ongoing access to reliable transportation to and from your assigned school site
• Criminal history background checks are conducted on all AmeriCorps members when an offer is made. Your term of service is always contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check. The results of state and FBI criminal history background checks and national sexual offender checks through the National Sex Offender Public Registry Website (NSOPW) are considered.
• Successful completion of a Tuberculosis (TB) test and CPR and First Aid certification upon hire

Playworks is a hands-on, creative, playful and fun-loving place to be, all while contributing to the success of our nation’s youth. So if you're ready to immerse yourself in the education sector, take on a rewarding set of challenges and if you've got the skills, experience, passion, and team spirit, apply!

For more information about AmeriCorps service with Playworks, check out www.playworks.org/coach

Service Environment: This position operates in Boston Public Elementary Schools K-5 school environment both indoors and outdoors. The position interacts with children on playgrounds and in classrooms on a daily basis.

Typical physical and mental demands:

This position requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to stand for extended periods at times; walk on a school site in various weather conditions; climb stairs at some sites; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist and, dependent on assignment the employee may occasionally lift, push, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Requires a range of hearing, vision, and speech that enables the member to exchange information, to hear and locate the source of a sound in a noisy environment, and to see effectively to monitor student activities

Playworks provides reasonable accommodations to applicants, members, and employees as required by law. Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation at any point in the interview, service, or enrollment process.

We are committed to racial equity, and we make a particular effort to recruit people of color, Indigenous people, gender non-binary people, and people with historically more marginalized identities to apply for open positions. Our core values of cultivate play, center equity, continue learning and collaborate within communities are the foundation of our organization and are infused in all aspects of our work.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself!

As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, faith, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates for employment, volunteering opportunities or board service on a merit basis.

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